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Probate

What is probate?

 

'Probate' is a term used when talking about applying for the right to deal with a deceased person's affairs. It's sometimes called 'administering the estate'.

 

This page contains information about what to expect if a loved one's estate is in probate.

 

In practice, other terms are used, depending on whether or not the deceased person left a will and where they lived. This information is for probate in England and Wales.

 

Different terms associated with probate

 

If the person who has died leaves a will

 

In this case one or more 'executors' may be named in the will to deal with the person's affairs after their death. The executor applies for a 'grant of probate' from a section of the court knows as the probate registry. The grant is a legal document which confirms that the executor has the authority to deal with the deceased person's assets (property, money and possessions). They can use it to show they have the right to access funds, sort out finances, and collect and share out the deceased person's assets as set out in the will.

 

If the person who has died didn't leave a will

 

If there is no will, a close relative of the deceased can apply to the probate registry to deal with the estate. In this case they apply for a 'grant of letters of administration'. If the grant is given, they are known as 'administrators' of the estate. Like the grant of probate, the grant of letters of administration is a legal document which confirms the administrator's authority to deal with the deceased person's assets.

 

In some cases, for example, where the person who benefits is a child, the law states that more than one person must act as the administrator.

 

If the person who died lived in Scotland

 

If the deceased person lived in Scotland you apply for a 'grant of confirmation'.

 

Personal representative

 

This is a general term which means executor or administrator.

 

Grant of representation

 

This is a general term which includes grants of probate and grants of letters of administration

 

Is a grant of probate/representation always needed?

 

When a grant is needed


A grant is almost always needed when the person who dies leaves one or more of the following:

 

stocks or shares

 

certain insurance policies

 

property or land held in their own name or as 'tenants in common'

In most cases above, the bank or relevant institution will need to see the grant before transferring control of the assets. However if the estate is small some organisations, such as insurance companies and building societies, may release money to you at their discretion.

 

When a grant may not be needed

 

A grant of representation may not be needed where:

 

the person who died left less than £5,000

 

they owned everything jointly with someone else and everything passes automatically to the surviving joint owner

 

To establish whether the assets can be obtained without a grant, the executor or administrator would need to write to each institution informing them of the death and enclosing a photocopy of the death certificate (and will if there is one).

 

Probate and Inheritance Tax

 

The personal representative won't be granted probate until some or all of any Inheritance Tax that is due on the estate has been paid.

 

Household and personal goods

 

HMRC has reduced the amount of detail required for most household and personal goods on form IHT407. The only household and personal goods that need to be listed individually are:

 

  • Items of jewellery valued at over £500;
  • Vehicles, boats and aircraft; and,
  • Antiques, works of art or collections.

  

All other household and personal goods such as general furniture, white goods and jewellery valued at less than £500 should be totalled up and the total value of such items entered at box 4 form IHT407.

 

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